POLITICIANS voted for cheaper grub at Holyrood — while hiking prices for the
public.

The MSPs’ decision sparked fury last night as critics branded it “classic
snouts in the trough stuff”.

Eben Wilson of campaign group Taxpayer Scotland, said MSPs risk “riling”
voters. He said: “How strange that politicians at Holyrood are constantly
lecturing others on ‘fairness and equality’ yet decide that message doesn’t
apply to their own lunches.

“There is no excuse for charging above-inflation prices while expecting us to
cough up even more to subsidise their food and drink. This is simply unfair
privilege.”

The price of meals in the Garden Level Restaurant — open only to MSPs and
staff — are going up by just two per cent, which is below inflation and
effectively a price CUT.

Meanwhile the cost of a cuppa in the visitors’ cafe will soar by five per cent
— nearly DOUBLE the rate of inflation.

The decision was made by the parliament’s Corporate Body, a cross-party group
of MSPs which rules on admin issues.

A Scottish Government spokesman insisted last night: “The increases broadly
reflect inflation or local market rates.”